I stood there holding the diamond collar like it was a live grenade.
The butler stepped back exactly three steps and folded his hands behind his back.
Fifty bodyguards I hadn't even noticed before now lined the walls, all in black suits, faces hidden behind dark sunglasses.
No one spoke.
The only sound was the soft ticking of a grandfather clock somewhere in the darkness.
Fluffy still hadn't blinked.
I swallowed hard.
"W-where should I… polish it?"
The butler gestured to a small marble table that slid out from the floor on silent rails.
On it: a velvet cloth, a bottle of jewel cleaner that probably cost more than my scooter, and a pair of white gloves.
I walked forward. Every step echoed.
When I reached the table I realised my hands were shaking so badly I almost dropped the collar.
42 billion dollars' worth of diamonds in my sweaty palms.
Great start, Vikram.
I put on the gloves.
Took a deep breath.
And started polishing.
The first ten seconds were okay.
By the twentieth second I realised Fluffy's red eyes were following every single movement of the cloth.
No pressure.
Thirty seconds in, a bead of sweat rolled down my forehead and landed on the collar.
I froze.
The butler's voice came from behind me, calm and cold:
"Wipe it off. Carefully."
I did.
My heart was hammering so loud I was sure everyone could hear it.
One minute passed.
Two minutes.
I kept polishing in tiny circles, checking every angle under the spotlight.
I could see my own terrified face reflected in every diamond.
Finally I held it up.
Not a single fingerprint. Not a single scratch.
The butler took it from me, examined it under a magnifying glass that appeared out of nowhere, then gave a single nod.
He walked to Fluffy and placed the collar back around the dog's neck.
Fluffy closed his eyes for the first time.
When he opened them again, the red glow was softer. Almost… satisfied.
The butler turned to me.
"Task one: complete.
You may breathe now."
I realised I had been holding my breath for the last thirty seconds.
Air rushed into my lungs like I'd been underwater.
The butler continued:
"Master has approved your employment.
You will live on the premises.
Your belongings will be collected from your old residence by evening.
Your family will be informed you have accepted a live-in position abroad.
Salary will be transferred today itself.
Any questions?"
A thousand questions exploded in my head.
I picked the safest one.
"Does… does the Master ever… speak?"
Fifty bodyguards shifted slightly.
The butler's eyebrow moved one millimetre.
"Master has not spoken in seven years.
He does not need to.
When Master wants something, we know."
He snapped his fingers.
A maid appeared with a silver tray: one glass of water and one… dog bowl filled with what looked like wagyu beef.
The bowl was placed at Fluffy's feet.
Fluffy didn't move.
The butler looked at me.
"Second task.
Feed the Master. By hand."
I stared at the raw meat.
Then at Fluffy.
Then at the fifty silent bodyguards.
I understood Rule Two perfectly now.
I picked up a piece of meat with shaking fingers and held it out.
Fluffy leaned forward slowly, took it gently from my hand, and chewed once.
Then he sat back, licked his lips, and gave a single, slow blink.
The butler actually smiled. Just a tiny bit.
"Congratulations, Mr. Meghal.
You have passed day one."
He gestured toward a side door.
"Your quarters are this way.
Dinner is at 8.
Master prefers his assistant to be present."
I started walking.
My legs felt like jelly.
Behind me I heard the softest sound, almost nothing.
Just air moving through a dog's nose.
But I swear, in that moment, it sounded exactly like a quiet, satisfied chuckle.
(To be continued…)